First Look at Spider-Man’s Magic: The Gathering Crossover Revealed

Marvel's Spider-Man Swings into Magic: The Gathering! A First Look at Cards and Products

Last week's reveal of Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy crossover sparked excitement, but for superhero fans, the wait is over. We now have a sneak peek at six cards from the upcoming Spider-Man set, along with a look at the accompanying products.

Explore the Image Gallery Below: The gallery showcases Spider-Man cards from the Commander-focused Scene Box, booster packs, Welcome Decks, and more.

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Spider-Man: A Full Set for a Full Character

Launching September 26th, Marvel's Spider-Man will be the second fully draftable, Standard-legal set in Magic's Universes Beyond line after Final Fantasy. Unlike what might be expected, it won't feature preconstructed Commander decks; however, the Scene Box cards, while Commander-focused, are not Standard-legal.

This marks Magic's first full set inspired by Marvel comics, a decision driven by the sheer scale of the Spider-Man universe. Wizards of the Coast Executive Producer, Max McCall, explains that a smaller product simply wouldn't have accommodated the vast cast of characters and iconic moments. "Spider-Man needs a full set to do justice to the character," McCall states, highlighting the inclusion of numerous villains and even Aunt May, a character that wouldn't have fit into a smaller, non-Spider-Man-specific set.

Universes Beyond Design: A Different Approach

McCall describes the Universes Beyond design process as a "worldbuilding flip." Traditional Magic sets require cards to establish a setting, while Universes Beyond leverages pre-existing familiarity with characters like Spider-Man. This allows for more mechanically complex cards, as the story is already understood. "We don't have to make Universes Beyond cards 'simple'," McCall explains. "We just have to pick recognizable moments."

Color Pie and Character Representation

Head Designer Mark Rosewater emphasizes the flexibility of Magic's color pie in representing heroism and villainy. He uses Spider-Man as an example, explaining his alignment with white, blue, and green. The Scene Box Spider-Man card showcases white and blue, reflecting his obligation to help others and his scientific aptitude.

Products and Welcome Decks Return

Beyond the Scene Box, the set includes Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Bundles, and Prerelease Packs. The set also marks the return of Welcome Decks, introductory decks designed to help new players learn the game.

The Future of Universes Beyond

Following this year's Final Fantasy set and the recently announced Avatar: The Last Airbender set, two more in-universe sets are planned: Tarkir: Dragonstorm and the space-themed Edge of Eternities.

(Full interview with Max McCall and Mark Rosewater available via video link.)

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